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Encarnacion, Sierra homers power Blue Jays

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Encarnacion's three-run home run 0:32

3/22/14: Edwin Encarnacion hits a laser home run to left field, scoring Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista

By Gregor Chisholm
/
MLB.com |

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion and designated hitter Moises Sierra each homered while Todd Redmond carried a perfect game into the fifth inning en route to a 9-4 victory over the Tigers on Saturday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

The vast majority of Toronto's offense came during the first inning with left-hander Kyle Lobstein on the mound for Detroit. Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera got the rally started with a pair of back-to-back doubles to account for the first run of the game.

Jose Bautista then walked and Encarnacion proceeded to hit his third home run of the spring with a no-doubter to left field. Two batters later, Sierra followed with his second home run in as many games on a high fly ball to center. That gave the Blue Jays an early five-run lead just six batters into the game.

Lobstein managed to settle down and get through the rest of the inning without any further damage. He stayed in the game until the end of the third and was charged with the five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out four. His ERA for the spring now sits at 7.11 in five appearances.

Redmond, who is competing for the final spot in Toronto's rotation, had a flawless start to his outing. He was perfect until walking Tyler Collins with one out in the fifth inning. Redmond gave up a single two batters later, but got through the inning without allowing any runs.

"I felt great. I was able to hit my spots and that's what I was able to do today, locate my offspeed," Redmond said. "I was able to stay on top of the ball, we worked on it in the bullpen and I carried it out onto the field."

Detroit changed that in the sixth when Ezequiel Carrera led off the inning with a homer to right field. Victor Martinez then doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Miguel Cabrera, while Tyler Collins also added a two-run double. Redmond was charged with three of the four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight over his six innings.

Up next: Left-hander Mark Buehrle will take the mound at 1:05 p.m. ET when the Blue Jays visit the Yankees on Sunday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Watch it live on MLB.TV. Buehrle is expected to throw six innings in what will be his second-to-last appearance of the spring. Relievers Sergio Santos, Brett Cecil, Steve Delabar and Aaron Loup also are expected to pitch for the Blue Jays.